Life on aromasin
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wow , big difs, I just entered the dang donut hole (I am on medicare) and my pharmacist suggests I apply for the state aid. I am not sure that I will qualify but need to apply as it would reduce cost hugely
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I pay $20 with medicare supplement, but will hit the donut hole, then it will be $300+.
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I use express scripts and pay $60 for a three month supply of exemestane.
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Linda, you are in the same spot I am in, dang but I knew it when I signed up for medicare but now, dang donut hole is here
not sure if I would be better doing the RX discount cards I see as then it does not count towards getting out of the dang hole~~
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Hi ladies... Question- does aromasin cause hair loss?
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Dlove, for some of us it does cause hair thinning. It is not necessarily the drug causing it, but the drop in estrogen.
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Does anyone feel more angry or aggressive taking this drug? Or any other emotional effects,apart from depression and low mood?
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However, I had no hair loss while on Arimidex and the thinning started about a year after I started Aromasin...Don't know the cause, just bemoan the results..
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Several of my friends noticed substantially more hair loss on exemestane than anastrozole. I think I have a bit more but my hair is so thick that it isn't that noticeable but my hairline had receded more on this med. Waiting to see if it levels out. I've been on it since June.
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Iago, I'm thinking of trying Minoxidil. Remind me of your experience.. The biotin and Viviscal and Nioxin don't seem to be helping...
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Hi all, I read this thread, but don't often post. I don't have any SE's mentioned above - no hair loss. Sleep is an issue, but then I think it is for all us survivors no matter what we're on. Although I do have depression, I struggled with that before my diagnosis. Joint pain seems to wax and wane. I try to walk every day and that seems to help.
One thing I'm concerned about is that I'm planning to switch insurances to my DH's plan this fall. I see some of you have to pay for your RXs. I've always had mine covered 100% so it will be a little nerve wracking to see what I'll have to end up paying.
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lago- I have lots of thick hair also but I definitely have a receding hairline now.
BC101- mine used to be covered 100% but with my new insurance it costs $10 a month. At first this annoyed me but after reading some of these posts I am thankful it is not more.
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My hair is thinning. I've always had very thick hair. I keep it short and get a cut every five weeks or so - I also used to get it thinned every time it was cut. Never get it thinned now. I notice that it's a lot thinner, but no-one else would. I see a lot of hair in the shower drain, so know it's falling out.
Lily - I don't get any emotional ses from aromasin - I could be pretty volatile before bc (not all the time though) but actually feel more emotionally calm now. I thing it's because I figure I've been through something so bad that it's not worth stressing about the little things in life anymore.
Trish
xoxo
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I'm speechless. I can't believe the amount of money some of you are paying for meds. That is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!
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yeap some folks go bankrupt on drug costs! I was really sick the last year I worked (2012-3 with what turned out to be sinus polyps) but I hung in just for health insurance
left the job when I was close to 65 (company was going bankrupt) but I stayed only for my insurance, I was lucky as I left at close to the magic 65 point and my AL was due to end in a few months
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WaveWhisperer I only use it once a day but I think I might now try 2X like it says on the directions. At the very least it has slowed the receding. I had the issue before diagnosis. I do have some growth with it too.
lonnie713 don't get me started. My insurance tries to push you to the cheaper drug. Really punishes you in the pocketbook if you have to use the more expensive one.
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I haven't noticed any hair thinning with it.
The donut hole - I think the decision on whether or not to use the RX discount cards would depend on if you will make it through the donut hole, for me, the donut hole hits late in the year, and I won't have enough accumulated expenses to get me to the other side before January. So this year, I may use the discount cards, because that $300+ per month could be a hardship.
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Did any of you watch the Army of Women webinar on Collateral Damage of Breast Cancer Treatments? It was really interesting - and one of the things I found most interesting was the stats on compliance when taking Tamoxifen or AI's. It showed that those on Tamox stayed pretty steady at something like 70-80% complied every year during a 5 year period following diagnosis, but with the AI's the compliance rate decreased dramatically, so that at the 4 year mark, only 38% were still taking the AI as prescribed - that's not good, but at least the studies are now showing the issues that lead to this, maybe they'll start finding ways to make it easier to stay on this drug.
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What about the generic form of Aromasin - isn't that much cheaper?
LindaKR - Where did you see the webinar? I'd like to tune in as I'm very interested in after care / survivorship. Yes, I think the medical community will seek out ways to try to find it easier to comply with AIs. Especially since they are talking about 10 years vs. 5 year treatment period. There are studies that say acupuncture helps with hot flashes and joint pain, but insurance companies may not cover it.
Some clinics are offering cancer rehabilitation programs treating the whole person. These are few and far between it seems. We shouldn't have to do the footwork in finding help. It's out there, but it's hard to find. I'm cobbling together my own "rehab" program .... getting help for the depression, taking Yoga classes, scheduling PT, attending nutrition classes. It's almost a full time job!!
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bc, sounds like you are doing as much as you can to help yourself, much like I am trying...tons of green veggies, gym 5 days a week, gave up processed junk long while back and try to do one day a week as veggie only...I like to think it is helping
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bc, the 210.00 price IS for the generic exemestane! Thank goodness I don't pay that money or I would be bankrupt.
Now I am also on HBP meds due to the AI. I never in my life had HBP. It was always 110/70, not 132/92! I am really tire of feeling like crap ladies and am counting the weeks until Nov. when I see my MO. I am going to beg off. I don't even want to try femara or arimidex at this point. I have never felt so lousy in my entire life and I still have 3.5 years to go! Not likely gonna make it.
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bc101- I did the same thing in the years after diagnosis. I worked with PT, yoga, accupuncture, reflexology, lymph drainage, massage and saw a nutritionist. It was expensive and time consuming caring for my body.
I am now following a very clean eating plan (the whole 30) and exercising every day and I am feeling so much better! It seems to be buffering the side effects of the meds.
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bc, Yale, where I was treated has a survivorship program that addresses everything from nutrition to accupuncture to yoga, smoking cessation, massage, and everything else. To take advantage of it, I would have to drive an hour one way to attend classes. I work full time and take care of my dad who has dementia and other health issues so no time for this wonderful FREE program. Ugh...sorry y ou have to do it on your own.
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This is the webinar that I watched, I believe it was going to be posted on line, just not sure where 😕. Collateral damage of breast cancer
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Like your situation, April, Dartmouth, where I was treated, has wonderful free programs--Lebed exercise, tai chi, yoga, chair massage, Reiki, and more, but it's nearly two hours away, so I can't take advantage either. So near and yet so far!
Do let me chime in that after 15 sessions of physical therapy, my hips feel pretty durned good. It was definitely bursitis, not arthritis, not mets, and probably not the fault of arimidex at all. As I've switched to exemestane in the middle of it, I can't say for sure that the AI didn't play a big part in my pain level, but it seems not to have been its source. My current gripe is hair loss. Ugh!
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April,i came off of aromasin,last week.Was so tied of hurting,wrist,hands,and fatigue....Im also 67,and 3 years i will be 70,and i feel like im 90.....i dont want breast cancer to come back,im scared to pieces of getting it again..But meanwhile i want to feel better,and not hurt.My oncologist said to suck it up,and deal with it..He has never been there...so how can he relate.You ladies do,and have been there,and i see how some deal with it.Alot are like me,hurting .Since i have been off of it my wrist has gotten better...still experimenting with the off effects of aromasin...thank you
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Gulp! Yes, Aromasin appeared a nonevent, but SEs of bone loss and rise in cholesterol have been grr.
Kayezz66 - did you get a baseline of all bloodwork, Dexa scan ? Sorry your MO isn't listening. I've got wrist pain and though it was sprain, X-ray doesn't show anything but I've loss something and pain is constant...worked in nursery today and could not lift heavy babies using my right hand...will press for answers this December. Walking and weight lifting to keep strong, but hand is no good..,:(
Brookside - hair hair...I've had a significant loss...so cut my hair short, but I don't recognize myself...what happen to the thick wavy hair...can see my scalp:(((
April - you've had problems and pains from the go...truly the devil we know and the devil we are trying to keep at bay...ugh.
Did Zometa infusion to counter SEs, but jaw pain, knees, and wrist are GRRR but more the hair thing...how vain..I know...this bald lady looks older than my mother:(((
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Kayezzy66 - did you ask your doc about switching to another AI? I had terrible SE's with Arimidex and the joint pain was unacceptable. My MO agreed and immediately switched me to Aromasin. Thank goodness it's working for me. There are other options out there as opposed to not taking anything at all. I hope you can get some answers! Maybe it's time to change providers if your current doc isn't listening or offering solutions. If it were me, his response would be enough reason to switch (both providers and AI's!). Good luck!
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O my ,why do we have to deal with all this pain,especially after surgery,chemo,radiation...i have to return to my oncologist the last of this month,and i hope i get some answers.Hopefully he can give me something that doesnt have so many ses....i also excerise 2 days a week,and do weights,and the wrist bandadge works good.I aso have to wear a sleeve on my other arm for lymp.Thank you for being here...it really helps...Kayezzy
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Three weeks in and Aromasin is way better than Tamoxifen for me - less stiffness in knees, but wrists are more painful. No weight gain yet, fingers crossed!
I am doing zumba with weights 3 times a week and once a week kettlersize. I think it helps, well I feel really good after:)
x x
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